French grammar · A1
Articles: le, la, les, un, une, des
A clear, example-first explanation built for CLB 6 / B1 — the level you need for TCF / TEF Canada.
Overview
In French, every noun has a gender — masculine (le, un) or feminine (la, une). Plural is always les / des. There is no neutral. You learn gender with the word, like a sticker on the noun.
Definite (the)
le + masc · la + fem · l' + vowel · les + plural
- le chien (the dog)
- la maison (the house)
- l'arbre (the tree)
- les enfants (the children)
Indefinite (a/an/some)
un + masc · une + fem · des + plural
- un livre
- une pomme
- des amis
Trick: gender hints
Most nouns ending in -e are feminine (la table). Most ending in consonant are masculine (le chat). Many exceptions — always learn the article WITH the noun.
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